Malachi*

From Richie Morgan

Overall structure of Malachi

A. 1:1 heading
B. 1:2-5 God’s love for Jacob and hatred of Esau
C. 1:6-14 Blemished offerings
D. 2:1-9 Failure of the priesthood
E. 2:10-16 An unfaithful people
D’. 2:17-3:5 Purification of the priesthood
C’. 3:6-12 Robbing God of offerings
B’. 3:13-4:3 God’s loves the righteous and hates the wicked
A’. 4:4-6 addendum

The central unit contains this chiasm – ESV

A. 15.So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.

B. 16“For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the LORD,  the God of Israel,

B’. covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts.

A’. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

One thought on “Malachi*”

  1. The ESV Study Bible, says “The book also has an unobtrusive concentric (chiastic) structure”.
    Here is an abbreviated version.

    1:1 heading.
    A. 1:2-5 First Disputation – God’s elective love vindicated.
    B. 1:6-9 Second Disputation – Israel’s begrudging offerings condemned.
    C. 1:10-2:16 Third Disputation – Marriage to an idolator.
    C’.2:17-3:5 Fourth Disputation – Adultery and other moral offences.
    B’. 3:6-12 Fifth Disputation – Israel’s begrudging offerings condemned.
    A’. 3:13-4:3 Sixth Disputation – God’s elective love vindicated.
    4:4-6 Conclusion.

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